Glen AtwellNathan Buckley feels sorry for Ben Cousins
March 21st 2007 06:52
Magpie captain Nathan Buckley feels for Ben Cousins and the West Coast Eagles, and the way Cousins' life is so publically scrutinised.
Sport Talk has the full report:
Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley believes fallen Eagles' superstar Ben Cousins has a tough battle ahead of him as he attempts to get his life back on track while firmly in the public spotlight.
Cousins has been suspended indefinitely by the reigning premier amidst allegations of alcohol and drug abuse following his break-up with his girlfriend.
The 2005 Brownlow Medallist was suspended after missing training on Monday, on a day when he was due to be drug-tested, the latest in a long line of indiscretions by one of the AFL's highest profile players, who has also in the past been linked to underworld figures.
While Buckley, one of the AFL's top role models, believes the reputation of all AFL players should not be tarnished because of the indiscretions of a few - he says he feels for Cousins having his life scrutinised in such a public way.
"I have always thought if any one of us had our lives laid bare it would be pretty ugly reading at times," he said.
"And at the moment his is an open book, it's not a great position for he or the West Coast Eagles or the game for that matter to be in."
"We (AFL players) are not perfect, we are not angels and even the best of us make mistakes."
"And we have got to give him (Cousins) a chance to work himself out but the unfortunate thing for him is he going to have to do it under the spotlight."
Carlton coach Denis Pagan was also quick to sympathise with Cousins on Wednesday.
"I just hope that Ben can straighten (out) whatever issues he's got, no one knows what they are," Pagan said.
"You can't help but feel for him, I think he needs all the support in the world at the moment."
However Buckley, while sympathetic to Cousins, said it was unfair to brand all AFL players as poorly behaved off the field in light of the Cousins saga.
"We all shouldn't be tarred with the same brush and I don't believe we are," he said.
Buckley praised the Eagles for their handling of the situation and for the AFL for their determination to take a stand on issues such as drug abuse.
"I admire the way the Eagles have managed this, one of the hardest things is knowing when to draw the line and generally if things get swept under the carpet then things remain the same and the status quo remains."
"But if there is going to be any progress in any organisation then you have got to draw the line somewhere and West Coast have done that."
Buckley urged the AFL to continue its fight in tackling tough issues such as drug abuse despite the speculation linking high-profile players such as Cousins to the problem.
"If you want to be a leader in society as the AFL has proven to be in the last decade on racial and religious vilification, attitudes to women and the drugs issue then you are going to have things that come up and bite you in the arse occasionally," he said.
"Individuals are responsible for their own actions and decisions."
"And if you want to try and stop moving forward and doing the right thing for the greater benefit (of the players, the game and society) because you get shown up by one or two or three or even a dozen guys, then we are the poorer if we do that."
Sport Talk has the full report:
Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley believes fallen Eagles' superstar Ben Cousins has a tough battle ahead of him as he attempts to get his life back on track while firmly in the public spotlight.
Cousins has been suspended indefinitely by the reigning premier amidst allegations of alcohol and drug abuse following his break-up with his girlfriend.
The 2005 Brownlow Medallist was suspended after missing training on Monday, on a day when he was due to be drug-tested, the latest in a long line of indiscretions by one of the AFL's highest profile players, who has also in the past been linked to underworld figures.
While Buckley, one of the AFL's top role models, believes the reputation of all AFL players should not be tarnished because of the indiscretions of a few - he says he feels for Cousins having his life scrutinised in such a public way.
"I have always thought if any one of us had our lives laid bare it would be pretty ugly reading at times," he said.
"And at the moment his is an open book, it's not a great position for he or the West Coast Eagles or the game for that matter to be in."
"We (AFL players) are not perfect, we are not angels and even the best of us make mistakes."
"And we have got to give him (Cousins) a chance to work himself out but the unfortunate thing for him is he going to have to do it under the spotlight."
Carlton coach Denis Pagan was also quick to sympathise with Cousins on Wednesday.
"I just hope that Ben can straighten (out) whatever issues he's got, no one knows what they are," Pagan said.
"You can't help but feel for him, I think he needs all the support in the world at the moment."
However Buckley, while sympathetic to Cousins, said it was unfair to brand all AFL players as poorly behaved off the field in light of the Cousins saga.
"We all shouldn't be tarred with the same brush and I don't believe we are," he said.
Buckley praised the Eagles for their handling of the situation and for the AFL for their determination to take a stand on issues such as drug abuse.
"I admire the way the Eagles have managed this, one of the hardest things is knowing when to draw the line and generally if things get swept under the carpet then things remain the same and the status quo remains."
"But if there is going to be any progress in any organisation then you have got to draw the line somewhere and West Coast have done that."
Buckley urged the AFL to continue its fight in tackling tough issues such as drug abuse despite the speculation linking high-profile players such as Cousins to the problem.
"If you want to be a leader in society as the AFL has proven to be in the last decade on racial and religious vilification, attitudes to women and the drugs issue then you are going to have things that come up and bite you in the arse occasionally," he said.
"Individuals are responsible for their own actions and decisions."
"And if you want to try and stop moving forward and doing the right thing for the greater benefit (of the players, the game and society) because you get shown up by one or two or three or even a dozen guys, then we are the poorer if we do that."
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